#26 - Specific Reference, Must Be True, Purpose/Function

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is (D).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C):

Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice.

Answer choice (E):


This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[lsatgirlll2000]

I get that paragraph 3 is essentially saying not much can be inferred from impressionists' paintings because they knowingly were distorting reality for stylistic reasons, but I don't understand how this relates to answer choice D.

[KelseyWoods]

Hi lsatgirlll2000!

Answer choice (D) is actually a better description of the main idea of paragraph 3. The referenced lines support the sentence the immediately follows them: "Their paintings in effect have two levels of "subject": what is represented and how it is represented, and no art historian can afford to emphasize one at the expense of the other." This is essentially the argument that answer choice (D) is referring to, that "an exclusive emphasis on the Impressionists' subject matter is mistaken." According to the author, the fact that the Impressionists' style disrupts description means that historians cannot place emphasis on just style or subject matter, but instead must consider both together.

Hope this helps!

Best,
Kelsey

[ltalley]

Hi, I was between D and E on this question and ultimately went incorrectly with E. Could you explain why D is a better answer than E?

[Rachael Wilkenfeld]

Hi ltalley,

Answer choice (E) is inconsistent with the author's point of view in the passage. The author indicates that they believe the Impressionists neglected certain topics (ie work and poverty), and thus would not be undermining the claim that they neglected those topics. The first step in an RC question like this one is going to be to make sure the answer choice is consistent with the passage. If it conflicts with the information in the passage, it will be incorrect.

Hope that helps!